Ex-post and ex-ante evaluation study of the Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau

DG MARE Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission) - Project Dates:
December 2022 - July 2023

Description of Project:
According to Article 34 of the EU Financial Regulation, Commission Services have to undertake both ex-ante and ex-post evaluations for all programmes and activities which entail significant spending. The Council Conclusions on the External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) adopted on 19 March 2012 request that an ex-post and ex-ante evaluation be undertaken by the Commission before the possible negotiation and signature of a renewal Protocol. This is enshrined in Article 31(10) of the current CFP basic regulation.

The purpose of this specific contract was to provide the European Commission with an independent ex-post and ex-ante evaluation study of the implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Union and Guinea-Bissau (hereinafter the ‘Agreement’). The objective of an evaluation study was to provide the Commission with a thorough evaluation of the implementing Protocol to the Agreement by producing an overall analysis of its features, content, implementation, results and impacts, and giving a vision for its future and improvement.

The consortium Poseidon (Europe) - F&S completed this assignement within the multiple framework service contract in cascade for Better regulation related activities on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) (MARE/2021/OP/0001).

The evaluation team assessed the viability of the existing and potential future arrangements of the implementing Protocol, as required under the CFP. It provided the Commission with data and technical, economic and social analyses of the fishing resources and related economic activities. This allowed the Commission to assess and provide feedback on the performance of the current implementing Protocol, and decide on future needs. This evaluation study evaluated the features of a possible new implementing Protocol, and prepared the potential negotiations between the Commission, on behalf of the EU, and the partner country. This evaluation study provided information on the cooperation between the EU and Guinea-Bissau on policies related to the Agreement. For example, on the trade of fisheries and aquaculture products, development and cooperation policies, as well as, fisheries, marine and maritime policies.

The Commission used this type of evaluations as a tool for improving the quality and coherence of the decision-making. The study served as basis for the Commission’s evaluation report (Staff Working Document) on the subject.

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* Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC

Services Provided:

Poseidon participated as quality controller of the deliverables and as consortium leader. The assignment was technically led by F&S.

The evaluation report is likely to be made available to the public on the Publications Office of the EU - link here - publication of the report is at the discretion of the EC / EU (situation 7 Oct. 2023).